Welcome to Competitive Innovations, our weekly feature for a number of game lines across the tabletop wargame space. Each week our army list and tactics experts canvass the top tournaments for their game of specialty, looking at the week’s top match-ups and how they played out on the tabletop to let you know what’s hot, what’s not, and what might be coming next as the competitive meta evolves year-round.

Why is the column late today? Assume it’s a go-slow in protest at elves not being legal yet. Yeah let’s go with that.

Geekfest – Winter War Zone – Warhammer 40K GT
Dearg Doom II: The Redder, The Deader
CaptainCon 40K Event Hosted by Away Game
Battle for the Bend II 40k GT
Cross-Swords PAW 2025

And these on Friday:

UTC Invitational Finals
OPEN TALAVERA 2025
Winter Ruin II
Dicehammer Open 40k GT VIII
Waaghmaster III

Geekfest – Winter War Zone – Warhammer 40K GT

57-player, 6-round Grand Tournament in Shearwater, NS, CA on February 01 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Brandon Vallee – Dark Angels (Company of Hunters) – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Zoomies (2000 points)

Space Marines
Dark Angels
Strike Force (2000 points)
Company of Hunters

CHARACTERS

Azrael (115 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Lion’s Wrath
1x The Lion Helm
1x The Sword of Secrets

Chaplain on Bike (90 points)
• 1x Absolvor bolt pistol
1x Crozius arcanum
1x Twin bolt rifle
• Enhancement: Master of Manoeuvre

Chaplain on Bike (75 points)
• 1x Absolvor bolt pistol
1x Crozius arcanum
1x Twin bolt rifle

Lieutenant (65 points)
• 1x Master-crafted power weapon
1x Neo-volkite pistol
1x Storm Shield

Ravenwing Command Squad (120 points)
• 1x Ravenwing Champion
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Master-crafted power weapon
1x Plasma talon
• 1x Ravenwing Apothecary
• 1x Black Knight combat weapon
1x Bolt pistol
1x Plasma talon
• 1x Ravenwing Ancient
• 1x Black Knight combat weapon
1x Bolt pistol
1x Plasma talon

Sammael (115 points)
• 1x Bolt Pistol
1x Master-crafted plasma cannon
1x The Raven Sword
1x Twin storm bolter

BATTLELINE

Outrider Squad (80 points)
• 1x Outrider Sergeant
• 1x Astartes chainsword
1x Heavy bolt pistol
1x Twin bolt rifle
• 2x Outrider
• 2x Astartes chainsword
2x Heavy bolt pistol
2x Twin bolt rifle

OTHER DATASHEETS

Hellblaster Squad (230 points)
• 1x Hellblaster Sergeant
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Plasma incinerator
1x Plasma pistol
• 9x Hellblaster
• 9x Bolt pistol
9x Close combat weapon
9x Plasma incinerator

Ravenwing Black Knights (180 points)
• 1x Ravenwing Huntmaster
• 1x Black Knight combat weapon
1x Bolt pistol
1x Plasma talon
• 5x Ravenwing Black Knight
• 5x Black Knight combat weapon
5x Bolt pistol
5x Plasma talon

Ravenwing Darkshroud (115 points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Heavy bolter

Scout Squad (70 points)
• 1x Scout Sergeant
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Boltgun
1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Scout
• 4x Bolt pistol
2x Boltgun
4x Close combat weapon
1x Heavy bolter
1x Scout sniper rifle

Exported with App Version: v1.26.0 (67), Data Version: v541

Archetype

Company of Hunters Bike Spam

Thoughts

Ok- an extremely cool break through for the Ravenwing here! Loads of Black Knights, loads of Outriders, and supporting scoring. This list is very speedy indeed, and throws out deceptively durable mounted profiles in a meta of vehicle and infantry extremes, which isn’t to be sniffed at at all! Hellblasters give you your real hard-target removal as the Darkshroud keeps everything alive that little bit longer. Really cool list, very well done on the event win!

The Best of the Rest

There were 9 more players on 4-1 records. They were:

2nd – Stefan Samson – World Eaters (Berzerker Warband): Chonky Eightbound, Angron and a Forgefiend with no Invocatus!
3rd – Blair Macdonald – Chaos Daemons (Daemonic Incursion): Khorne heavy incursion with the obligatory Great Unclean One.
4th – Christopher Burgart – Chaos Knights (Traitoris Lance): A Cerastus, a Rampager, and plenty of War Dogs.
5th – Adam MacLeod – Astra Militarum (Combined Regiment): Old school Bullgryn / Leman Russ guard.
6th – Nate Quig – Chaos Daemons (Legion of Excess): Double Daemonette / Epitome for extra wound pass off in Slaanesh!
7th – Keenan Elliot – Tyranids (Invasion Fleet): Invasion Fleet with a Norn and a Zoan brick.
8th – Connor Campbell – Slaanesh (Legion of Excess): Double Keeper and Shalaxi in Slaanesh.
9th – Justin White – Space Marines (Astartes): Gladius Ultramarines with Gulliman.
10th – Matthew Reeson – Necrons (Awakened Dynasty): Double Wraith brick with a whole heap of characters.

Dearg Doom II: The Redder, The Deader

46-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Cork, CO, Ireland on February 01 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Tom Maher – Chaos Space Marines (Creations of Bile) – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ FACTION KEYWORD: Chaos – Chaos Space Marines
+ DETACHMENT: Creations of Bile
+ TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 2000pts
+ ALLIED UNITS: Chaos Knights
+
+ WARLORD: Char2: Fabius Bile
+ ENHANCEMENT: Prime Test Subject (on Char1: Chaos Lord)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

CHARACTER

Char1: 1x Cypher (90 pts)
1 with Cypher’s bolt pistol, Cypher’s plasma pistol

Char2: 2x Fabius Bile (85 pts)
• 1x Fabius Bile
1 with Rod of Torment, The Chirurgeon, Xyclos needler
• 1x Surgeon Acolyte
1 with Surgeon Acolyte’s tools
• Warlord

Char3: 1x Chaos Lord (125 pts)
1 with Daemon hammer, Power fist
Enhancement: Prime Test Subject (+35 pts)

BATTLELINE

10x Cultist Mob (50 pts)
• 1x Cultist Champion
1 with Brutal assault weapon, Autopistol
• 9x Cultist
9 with Autopistol, Brutal assault weapon

5x Legionaries (90 pts)
• 1x Aspiring Champion
1 with Close combat weapon, Heavy melee weapon, Plasma pistol
• Chaos icon
• 4x Legionary
2 with Astartes chainsword, Bolt pistol, Close combat weapon
1 with Bolt pistol, Close combat weapon, Heavy melee weapon
1 with Bolt pistol, Close combat weapon, Lascannon

OTHER DATASHEETS

5x Chosen (125 pts)
• 5x Chosen
1 with Accursed weapon, Bolt pistol, Boltgun
2 with Accursed weapon, Bolt pistol, Combi-weapon
1 with Paired accursed weapons, Plasma pistol
1 with Boltgun, Plasma pistol, Power fist
• Chaos icon

10x Chosen (250 pts)
• 10x Chosen
2 with Accursed weapon, Bolt pistol, Boltgun
4 with Accursed weapon, Bolt pistol, Combi-weapon
2 with Paired accursed weapons, Plasma pistol
1 with Boltgun, Plasma pistol, Power fist
1 with Boltgun, Plasma pistol, Power fist
• Chaos icon

5x Nemesis Claw (110 pts)
• 1x Visionary
1 with Power fist, Plasma pistol
• 4x Legionary
1 with Accursed weapon, Bolt pistol, Close combat weapon
1 with Bolt pistol, Close combat weapon, Nostraman chainglaive
1 with Bolt pistol, Close combat weapon, Paired accursed weapons
1 with Astartes chainsword, Bolt pistol, Close combat weapon
• Voice eater

10x Possessed (240 pts)
• 10x Possessed
9 with Hideous mutations
1 with Hideous mutations
• Chaos icon

1x Chaos Rhino (75 pts)
1 with Armoured tracks, Combi-bolter, Havoc launcher, Combi-weapon

ALLIED UNITS

1x War Dog Huntsman (140 pts)
1 with Daemonbreath spear, Reaper chaintalon, Daemonbreath meltagun

1x War Dog Karnivore (140 pts)
1 with Reaper chaintalon, Slaughterclaw, Diabolus heavy stubber

Archetype

Creations of Bile Bricks

Thoughts

An event win for chonky Creations of Bile here, who pack in the Possessed and get ready to roll. These lists are capable of tremendous go – turns, as the mid board is then anchored by Rhinos and War Dogs for OC and actions. The Possessed go up to 11 with the reroll wounds stratagem as required but otherwise pin things in place. Bile was definitely one of the coolest Grotmas detachments, so I am delighted to see it claim a win here. Well done!

Colin Power – Chaos Daemons (Legion of Excess) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ FACTION KEYWORD: Chaos – Chaos Daemons
+ DETACHMENT: Legion of Excess
+ TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 2000pts
+ Army Song:
+ WARLORD: Char6: Tormentbringer on Exalted Seeker Chariot
+ ENHANCEMENT: False Majesty (Aura) (on Char5: Tormentbringer on Exalted Seeker Chariot)
+ NUMBER OF UNITS: 11
+ SECONDARY: – Bring It Down: (3×4) – Assassination: 6 Characters
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Char1: 1x The Masque of Slaanesh “Rules=Yes” (85 pts): Serrated claws
Char2: 1x Contorted Epitome “Head Victim” (80 pts): Coiled tentacles, Ravaging claws
Char3: 1x Keeper of Secrets “Lust” (290 pts): Shining aegis, Phantasmagoria, Snapping claws, Witstealer sword
Char4: 1x Keeper of Secrets “Envy” (290 pts): Shining aegis, Phantasmagoria, Snapping claws, Witstealer sword
Char5: 1x Keeper of Secrets “Pride” (290 pts): Shining aegis, Phantasmagoria, Snapping claws, Witstealer sword
Char6: 1x Tormentbringer on Exalted Seeker Chariot “Buff Bus” (170 pts): Warlord, Exalted Seeker tongues, Lashes of torment, Ravaging claws
Enhancement: False Majesty (Aura) (+30 pts)

10x Daemonettes “Professional Victims” (100 pts)
8 with Slashing claws
1 with Instrument of Chaos, Slashing claws
1 with Daemonic Icon, Slashing claws

6x Fiends (210 pts): 6 with Barbed tail and dissecting claws
6x Fiends (210 pts): 6 with Barbed tail and dissecting claws
6x Fiends (210 pts): 6 with Barbed tail and dissecting claws
1x Beasts of Nurgle “Diversity Hire” (65 pts): Putrid appendages

Archetype

Fiends with Benefits

Thoughts

Slaanesh claims another top placing, as the brutal application of Fiends with rerolls and big old Keepers proves too much for most to manage. The Epitome / Daemonette combo let’s you pass off wounds very effectively, and the Chariots are great supporting buffing and screening pieces. Slaanesh appears to be the games strongest army at this moment in time, very well done to Colin on demonstrating this with aplomb.

The Best of the Rest

There were 7 more players on 4-1 records. They were:

3rd – Peter Ghelfi – Dark Angels (Company of Hunters): Very cool CoH Dark Angels with lots of Inner Circle Companions and Black Knights.
4th – Conor Crowley – T’au Empire (Retaliation Cadre): Beautiful symmetrical Ret Cadre with pairs of Suits, Ghostkeel, Riptides and Hammerheads.
5th – Charles Gould – Astra Militarum (Bridgehead Strike): Bridgehead Guard with an absolute tonne of bodies.
6th – Mike Tangney – Drukhari (Reaper’s Wager): Scourge, Talos and Incubi in Reaper’s Wager.
7th – Peter Scott – Chaos Knights (Traitoris Lance): War Dogs with some Daemons.
8th – Michael Mc Carthy – Blood Angels (Liberator Assault Group): Massed Sanguinary Guard, love to see it.
9th – Cian Hurley – Tyranids (Warrior Bioform Onslaught): Absolute masses of Termagants and Warriors in the Bioform detachment!

CaptainCon 40K Event Hosted by Away Games

40-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Warwick, RI, United States on February 01 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Alex Ing – Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal) – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ FACTION KEYWORD: Xenos – Necrons
+ DETACHMENT: Starshatter Arsenal
+ TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 1995pts
+
+ WARLORD: Char1: The Silent King
+ ENHANCEMENT: Dread Majesty (on Char1: Catacomb Command Barge)
& Chrono-impedance Fields (on Char2: Hexmark Destroyer)
& Demanding Leader (on Char3: Skorpekh Lord)
+ NUMBER OF UNITS: 16
+ SECONDARY: – Bring It Down: (7×2) + (1×6) – Assassination: 4 Characters
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Char1: 3x The Silent King (420 pts): Warlord
• 1x Szarekh: Sceptre of Eternal Glory, Staff of Stars, Weapons of the Final Triarch
• 2x Triarchal Menhir: 2 with Annihilator beam, Armoured bulk
Char2: 1x Catacomb Command Barge (150 pts): Resurrection orb, Gauss cannon, Overlord’s blade
Enhancement: Dread Majesty (+30 pts)
Char3: 1x Hexmark Destroyer (100 pts): Close combat weapon, Enmitic disintegrator pistols
Enhancement: Chrono-impedance Fields (+25 pts)
Char4: 1x Skorpekh Lord (90 pts): Enmitic annihilator, Flensing claw, Hyperphase harvester
Enhancement: Demanding Leader (+10 pts)

5x Flayed Ones (60 pts): 5 with Flayer claws
3x Ophydian Destroyers (80 pts): Plasmacyte, 3 with Ophydian hyperphase weapons
3x Skorpekh Destroyers (90 pts): Plasmacyte, 3 with Skorpekh hyperphase weapons
1x Lokhust Destroyers (35 pts): Close combat weapon, Gauss cannon
1x Lokhust Destroyers (35 pts): Close combat weapon, Gauss cannon
3x Tomb Blades (75 pts): 3 with Shadowloom, Close combat weapon, Twin tesla carbine
1x Annihilation Barge (105 pts): Armoured bulk, Twin tesla destructor, Gauss cannon
1x Canoptek Spyders (75 pts): Fabricator claw array, Gloom prism, Automaton claws, 2x Particle beamer
1x Doomsday Ark (190 pts): Armoured bulk, Doomsday cannon, 2x Gauss flayer array
1x Doomsday Ark (190 pts): Armoured bulk, Doomsday cannon, 2x Gauss flayer array
1x Doomsday Ark (190 pts): Armoured bulk, Doomsday cannon, 2x Gauss flayer array
1x Triarch Stalker (110 pts): Stalker’s forelimbs, Heat ray

Archetype

Starshatter Goodstuff

Thoughts

Starshatter shakes off some nerfs to claim a first place regardless! Three Doomsday Arks and the Silent King remains very potent indeed. I think Starshatter has to duck and weave a little on the match up fronts but when it gets to do it’s thing it can reasonable out-shoot an awful lot of the field. Really well done on the top placing.

The Best of the Rest

There were 5 more players on 4-1 records. They were:

2nd – Tony Phillips – Space Marines (Astartes) (Gladius Task Force): Ultramarines Gladius with some Desolators.
3rd – Benjamin Rubenstein – T’au Empire (Auxiliary Cadre): An absolute truckload of Broadsides in Auxiliary Cadre.
4th – Samuel Pope – Tyranids (Vanguard Onslaught): Full all-in Vanguard Onslaught with plenty of Raveners.
5th – Drew Salzborn – T’au Empire (Kroot Hunting Pack) : Massed Kroot with a smattering of supporting shooting.
6th – Gil Fuhr – Chaos Daemons (Daemonic Incursion): Triple GUO and Rotigus, you absolute legend.

Battle for the Bend II 40k GT

31-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in South Bend, Indiana, US on February 01 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Benjamin Frederiksen – Ultramarines (Gladius Task Force) – 1st Place

Chapter Master Arcus Pluvius of the Rainbow Warriors armed with the gauntlets Rainbows Duplex — Rainbow Warriors Chapter Master Arcus Pluvius by Craig “MasterSlowPoke” Sniffen

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Original list do not steal (2000 Points)

Space Marines
Ultramarines
Gladius Task Force
Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Captain in Gravis Armour (90 Points)
• 1x Boltstorm gauntlet
• 1x Power fist
• 1x Relic blade
• Enhancements: Artificer Armour

Lieutenant with Combi-weapon (70 Points)
• 1x Combi-weapon
• 1x Paired combat blades

Marneus Calgar (200 Points)
• 1x Marneus Calgar
◦ 1x Gauntlets of Ultramar
• 2x Victrix Honour Guard
◦ 2x Victrix power sword

Roboute Guilliman (345 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Emperor’s Sword
• 1x Hand of Dominion

BATTLELINE

Assault Intercessor Squad (75 Points)
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant
◦ 1x Hand flamer
◦ 1x Power fist
• 4x Assault Intercessor
◦ 4x Astartes chainsword
◦ 4x Heavy bolt pistol

OTHER DATASHEETS

Ballistus Dreadnought (130 Points)
• 1x Armoured feet
• 1x Ballistus lascannon
• 1x Ballistus missile launcher
• 1x Twin storm bolter

Company Heroes (95 Points)
• 1x Ancient
◦ 1x Bolt pistol
◦ 1x Bolt rifle
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Company Champion
◦ 1x Bolt pistol
◦ 1x Master-crafted power weapon
• 2x Company Veteran
◦ 2x Bolt pistol
◦ 2x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Master-crafted bolt rifle
◦ 1x Master-crafted heavy bolter

Gladiator Reaper (160 Points)
• 1x Armoured hull
• 1x Icarus rocket pod
• 1x Ironhail heavy stubber
• 2x Tempest bolter
• 1x Twin heavy onslaught gatling cannon

Incursor Squad (80 Points)
• 1x Incursor Sergeant
◦ 1x Bolt pistol
◦ 1x Occulus bolt carbine
◦ 1x Paired combat blades
• 4x Incursor
◦ 4x Bolt pistol
◦ 1x Haywire Mine
◦ 4x Occulus bolt carbine
◦ 4x Paired combat blades

Infiltrator Squad (100 Points)
• 1x Infiltrator Sergeant
◦ 1x Bolt pistol
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Marksman bolt carbine
• 4x Infiltrator
◦ 4x Bolt pistol
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Helix Gauntlet
◦ 1x Infiltrator Comms Array
◦ 4x Marksman bolt carbine

Vindicator (175 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Demolisher cannon
• 1x Hunter-killer missile
• 1x Storm bolter

Exported with App Version: v1.26.0 (2), Data Version: v541

Archetype

Ultramarines Goodstuff

Thoughts

Gulliman’s finest are well poised to shoot their way out of most problems in the game right now thanks to the awesome power of new Oaths. This list goes deep on chunky tanks to take advantage of this, with the Primarch and Calgar on hand to counter-punch as required. Very effective at what it does and a stand out at the moment for one of the best armies in the game! I really like the Incursor plug in – these just help Marines to hit hard and true right now and are approaching must have. Well done on the event win.

The Best of the Rest

There were 4 more players on 4-1+ records. They were:

2nd (4.5-0.5) – Kevin Leonard – Chaos Daemons (Legion of Excess): Fiend-heavy double Keeper Legion.
3rd – Jordan Nach – T’au Empire (Mont’ka): mechanised Montka with breacherfish and other hulls.
4th – Jeff Grogan – Leagues of Votann (Oathband): double Land Fortress and a big Hearthguard brick, plus lots of cheap bord control from Yaegirs and bikes.
5th – Luke Bumpus – Adeptus Custodes (Shield Host): All-rounder shield host with a solid mix of tanks, infantry and bikes.

Cross-Swords PAW 2025

27-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in England, United Kingdom on February 01 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown

Missions right there in BCP once more. Yes. Yes!

Linchpin – Raise Banners – Dawn of War

Tom Godfrey – Orks (War Horde)
Army List - Click to Expand

Waaagh. Waaagh never changes. (2000 points)

Orks
Strike Force (2000 points)
War Horde

CHARACTERS

Beastboss (80 points)
• 1x Beast Snagga klaw
1x Beastchoppa
1x Shoota

Warboss (75 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Attack squig
1x Kombi-weapon
1x Power klaw
1x Twin sluggas

Warboss (75 points)
• 1x Attack squig
1x Kombi-weapon
1x Power klaw
1x Twin sluggas

BATTLELINE

Beast Snagga Boyz (95 points)
• 9x Beast Snagga Boy
• 9x Choppa
9x Slugga
• 1x Beast Snagga Nob
• 1x Power snappa
1x Slugga

Boyz (80 points)
• 9x Boy
• 8x Choppa
1x Close combat weapon
1x Rokkit launcha
8x Slugga
• 1x Boss Nob
• 1x Power klaw
1x Slugga

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Trukk (65 points)
• 1x Big shoota
1x Spiked wheels
1x Wreckin’ ball

OTHER DATASHEETS

Breaka Boyz (140 points)
• 1x Boss Nob
• 1x Choppa
1x Rokkit pistol
1x Smash hammer
• 5x Breaka Boy
• 1x Knucklebustas
3x Smash hammer
1x Tankhammer

Flash Gitz (80 points)
• 1x Ammo Runt
• 1x Kaptin
• 1x Choppa
1x Snazzgun
• 4x Flash Git
• 4x Choppa
4x Snazzgun

Gretchin (80 points)
• 20x Gretchin
• 20x Close combat weapon
20x Grot blasta
• 2x Runtherd
• 2x Runtherd tools
2x Slugga

Gretchin (40 points)
• 10x Gretchin
• 10x Close combat weapon
10x Grot blasta
• 1x Runtherd
• 1x Runtherd tools
1x Slugga

Nobz (210 points)
• 2x Ammo Runt
• 1x Boss Nob
• 1x Power klaw
1x Slugga
• 9x Nob
• 9x Power klaw
9x Slugga

Squighog Boyz (160 points)
• 1x Bomb Squig
• 3x Squighog Boy
• 3x Saddlegit weapons
3x Squig jaws
3x Stikka
• 1x Nob on Smasha Squig
• 1x Big choppa
1x Slugga
1x Squig jaws

Stormboyz (65 points)
• 4x Stormboy
• 4x Choppa
4x Slugga
• 1x Boss Nob
• 1x Power klaw
1x Slugga

Exported with App Version: v1.26.0 (67), Data Version: v541

vs.

Cameron Giles – Adeptus Custodes (Solar Spearhead)
Army List - Click to Expand

Old, Gold and something else that rhymes. (2000 points)

Adeptus Custodes
Strike Force (2000 points)
Solar Spearhead

CHARACTERS

Blade Champion (135 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Vaultswords
• Enhancement: Adamantine Talisman

Telemon Heavy Dreadnought (240 points)
• Solar Spearhead Keywords: Character
• 1x Arachnus storm cannon
1x Armoured feet
1x Spiculus bolt launcher
1x Telemon caestus
1x Twin plasma projector
• Enhancement: Augury Uplink

OTHER DATASHEETS

Caladius Grav-tank (215 points)
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Twin arachnus heavy blaze cannon
1x Twin lastrum bolt cannon

Custodian Wardens (200 points)
• 4x Custodian Warden
• 4x Guardian spear
1x Vexilla

Prosecutors (40 points)
• 1x Prosecutor Sister Superior
• 1x Boltgun
1x Close combat weapon
• 3x Prosecutor
• 3x Boltgun
3x Close combat weapon

Telemon Heavy Dreadnought (215 points)
• 1x Arachnus storm cannon
1x Armoured feet
1x Spiculus bolt launcher
1x Telemon caestus
1x Twin plasma projector

Venerable Contemptor Dreadnought (160 points)
• 1x Combi-bolter
1x Contemptor combat weapon
1x Multi-melta

ALLIED UNITS

Callidus Assassin (100 points)
• 1x Neural shredder
1x Phase sword and poison blades

Eversor Assassin (120 points)
• 1x Executioner pistol
1x Power sword and neuro gauntlet

Exported with App Version: v1.26.0 (67), Data Version: v541

Thoughts

A showdown that pitches two of the resurgent armies in the game against one another! Orks are enjoying being able to call Waaagh at a moment of their choosing, and War Horde is a big beneficiary. New units like the Break Boyz plug in especially well here and cause all sorts of mischief. The list is a little bit monophase, which will cause it some troubles here facing up against new Custodes. The stand-back-up again phenomenon is real here, and the Orks are going to have to commit forces just to knock the Ven Dreads over for the first time. This gives the Custodes quite a lot of momentum, and they will cull Ork bodies outside the Waagh.

What the Green Tide do have going for them is absolute buckets of units and OC. I can see this being hard fought as the Orks use their weight of bodies to leg up on secondaries and try to drown primary, but if they don’t put enough of the Golden army away on the go-turn it will be hard for them to keep up with the attrition. First / second turn probably has a big say in who grinds to victory at the end. Ultimately the Custodes took it!

Result

Adeptus Custodes (Solar Spearhead) Victory – 86 – 79

Cameron Giles – Adeptus Custodes (Solar Spearhead) – 1st Place

Telemon Heavy Dreadnought. Credit: Pendulin

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Old, Gold and something else that rhymes. (2000 points)

Adeptus Custodes
Strike Force (2000 points)
Solar Spearhead

CHARACTERS

Blade Champion (135 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Vaultswords
• Enhancement: Adamantine Talisman

OTHER DATASHEETS

Caladius Grav-tank (215 points)
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Twin arachnus heavy blaze cannon
1x Twin lastrum bolt cannon

Custodian Wardens (200 points)
• 4x Custodian Warden
• 4x Guardian spear
1x Vexilla

Prosecutors (40 points)
• 1x Prosecutor Sister Superior
• 1x Boltgun
1x Close combat weapon
• 3x Prosecutor
• 3x Boltgun
3x Close combat weapon

Telemon Heavy Dreadnought (215 points)
• 1x Arachnus storm cannon
1x Armoured feet
1x Spiculus bolt launcher
1x Telemon caestus
1x Twin plasma projector

Venerable Contemptor Dreadnought (160 points)
• 1x Combi-bolter
1x Contemptor combat weapon
1x Multi-melta

ALLIED UNITS

Callidus Assassin (100 points)
• 1x Neural shredder
1x Phase sword and poison blades

Eversor Assassin (120 points)
• 1x Executioner pistol
1x Power sword and neuro gauntlet

Exported with App Version: v1.26.0 (67), Data Version: v541

Archetype

Chonky Custodes

Thoughts

Solar Spearhead is a real pain to put away – I like this list which blends in just enough infantry based nonsense to compliment the big hulls and dreads. Eversor and Blade Champion Wardens can cause problems exactly in the spots that the other stuff sometimes struggles to reach. Feel no pain Telemon is a bane on undercommitments the world over, and the Caladius are lurking in the wings to capitalise. A fantastic build, and a great even win, well done!

The Best of the Rest

There were 3 more players on 4-1 records. They were:

2nd – Tom Godfrey – Orks (War Horde): The War Horde list from the Showdown.
3rd – George McCoulough – Drukhari (Skysplinter Assault): Tricky Skysplinter with lots of transports and minions inside them. Also a Voidraven!!
4th – George Hack – Adeptus Custodes (Shield Host): Golden Slabs with plenty of Guard, Wardens, and Allarus.

Wrap Up

That’s it for now folks! Lots of exciting things afoot for many of the games new detachments, and a seemingly quite diverse set of winners which is always very reassuring. Get out there and enjoy whilst it lasts!!!

Lowest of Men, out.

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[40k] Competitive Innovations in 10th: Keeping it Real pt.2

Geekfest – Winter War Zone – Warhammer 40K GT

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The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Dearg Doom II: The Redder, The Deader

Tom Maher – Chaos Space Marines (Creations of Bile) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Colin Power – Chaos Daemons (Legion of Excess) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

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Alex Ing – Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

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Benjamin Frederiksen – Ultramarines (Gladius Task Force) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Cross-Swords PAW 2025

The Showdown

Linchpin – Raise Banners – Dawn of War

Thoughts

Result

Cameron Giles – Adeptus Custodes (Solar Spearhead) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Wrap Up

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